Welsh coach: How I would beat ABs

Endure 80 minutes of the "remorseless grind" of taking on the All Blacks without wilting and France might have a chance in the Rugby World Cup final, the Welsh defence coach says.

In a column for the Guardian, Shaun Edwards shares the tactics he had hoped the Red Dragons would have had the opportunity to employ in the Rugby World Cup final on Sunday.

Instead, Wales were controversially dumped from the competition after they were defeated 9-8 by the French.

And if Les Bleus are to defeat the All Blacks in the tournament final, Edwards believe they will need to take the pace of the game, and handle the "physical challenge" the All Blacks pose for 80 minutes without wilting.

However, Edwards doubts they can.

"Long before the end of our semi-final - 14 men against 15 for all but 17 minutes - France looked to be the ones who were wilting and the omens are less than bright for Sunday."

"Any professional sportsman can jog around for 80 minutes, but it's something else to be collision conditioned, as it's called," he wrote. "The captain and flanker Thierry Dusautoir can do it, as can William Servat, the hooker, but France are not exactly overburdened with jackals - those guys who not only tackle, but get over the breakdown, scavenging for the ball or making ball slow for the opposition."

The former English rugby league international reckons Dimitri Yachvili will play a pivotal role, kicking for touch in order to give the forwards a chance to rest.

"You may even see one of the props drop to one knee when a scrum is due, just to extend the break a puff or two longer."

While Edwards feels the Welsh would stand a chance of lasting the distance against the All Blacks, he doesn't fancy the chances of the French.

"So can France hold back and beat this remorseless Black tide? Well they have done in the past: twice at Eden Park in their past nine visits. But they will have to repeat their performance of 2007 and that Cardiff quarter-final if they are to have a chance. France have to find half a dozen Dusautoirs and even then this All Black side are probably better than that of 2007. And they are at home."